Identifier

UA 53.4

Dates

1879-2004

Extent

8.12 linear feet [5 record boxes, 2 herbarium boxes, 1 document case-half/long, 1 half record box]

Abstract

The N.E. Hansen papers represent a comprehensive archive chronicling the career of Niels Ebbesen Hansen. The collection encompasses a diverse range of materials, including authored articles, bulletins, and circulars from Hansen's tenure at the South Dakota Experiment Station, as well as field notebooks, and ledgers from the South Dakota Horticultural Society.

Contributions from Helen Hansen Loen, Hansen's granddaughter, further enrich the collection with addresses, correspondence, journals, and travel documents, offering a deeper understanding of his professional and personal life. Notable highlights include addresses delivered by Hansen at prestigious events like the International Congress of Genetics in Berlin, underscoring his scholarly impact.

The collection's breadth extends to reports on forestry, sheep, and forage crops, reflecting Hansen's diverse interests. Manuscripts delve into topics ranging from agricultural practices to fine arts, while photographs document Hansen's expeditions to Siberia and Northern China, providing visual context to his exploratory work. Of particular significance are Hansen's manuscripts examining Soviet Russia's socio-political and economic landscape from 1934 to 1937. These writings offer valuable insights into agricultural collectivization, industrialization, and societal dynamics during that period, complementing Hansen's broader contributions to agricultural science.

Content Notes

The N. E. Hansen Papers document the life, career, and plant exploration work of Niels Ebbesen Hansen (1866–1950), a horticulturist, botanist, explorer, and professor at South Dakota State College. Hansen was renowned for developing hardy fruits and forage crops suited for the Great Plains, and this comprehensive collection spans from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, reflecting his pioneering plant-breeding research and global botanical expeditions.

The collection includes correspondence, field notes, manuscripts, publications, journals, plant specimens, photographs, and research files. Early field notebooks and ledgers document Hansen's experimental work in alfalfa, clovers, and grains at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Plant introduction records from Russia, Siberia, Turkestan, and China are extensively represented through travel logs, USDA contracts, expense reports, and photographs. Plant specimens and related horticultural data span multiple decades and continents, offering insight into his breeding strategies and selection processes.

Hansen’s manuscripts and publications explore topics such as breeding for cold resistance, disease tolerance, ornamental and edible plant development, and his views on Soviet agricultural practices. Of particular note are his multi-part manuscript series “Russian as Observed by an Agricultural Explorer” (1934–1937), which offers a critical and highly detailed commentary on Soviet collectivization, agrarian policies, and scientific developments. Numerous addresses and lectures document his national and international engagements with scientific and farming communities, including the Dry Farming Congress and State Horticultural Society.

Extensive correspondence from 1873 to the 1940s details his professional relationships with fellow horticulturalists such as Luther Burbank, institutional partners like the USDA, and international contacts including Soviet agronomist N.I. Vavilov. Clippings and biographical files document his recognitions, public reputation as the “Burbank of the Plains,” and memorials in his honor, including his 1949 South Dakota State College tribute and posthumous induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Photographs in the collection provide vivid documentation of Hansen’s expeditions, including images of him and his assistants in Manchuria, Siberia, and the Da Hinggan Mountains searching for hardy fruits. Other images depict South Dakota State College greenhouses, plant displays, and early experimental plots. Journals from his student years (1879–1883) and professional career reflect his early interests and scientific development.

This collection is a resource for studying early 20th-century plant exploration, American-Soviet agricultural exchange, Great Plains horticulture, and the role of land-grant institutions in shaping regional agricultural adaptation and innovation. Hansen’s impact on food systems, especially through breeding hardy fruits, grasses, and legumes, continues to influence breeding programs worldwide.

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

This document is a descriptive inventory of the collection in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections. It contains:

An overview of the collection, including information about the person or organization and a brief description of the materials and subjects found within.

A detailed inventory listing, organized by boxes and folders.

Information on how to access the materials, including any restrictions or special conditions.

In most cases, the materials in the collections have not been digitized and are not available online. If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at:

Information request form: Ask Us! Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.

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